The Ministry of Interior will be spending at least Sh7 billion annually to modernise equipment used by security officer, CS Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking on Tuesday in Baringo, Kindiki said the government has already approved a five-year programme for the same.
The programme will spend at least Sh37 billion.
Kindiki revealed that initially, the amount was set at Sh20 billion, but President William Ruto made a Sh17 billion increase.
"Therefore, we will be spending an average of Sh7 billion every year, to modernise the equipment for our security officers," he said.
"The first consignment of modern equipment that includes MRAPs, aerial surveillance kits that includes drones and personal protective gear is on the way and will be arriving in the country in the next seven to 10 days."
Acknowledging the steps taken to ensure that the ministry gets the equipment, Kindiki said Ruto has prioritised the security of the country.
This is considering, he said, that they took over the country at very hard economic times and hard to work harder to secure the money for the programme.
He added that the security and stability of the country is linked to its economic progress.
The CS said he has already made orders to see that after the consignment has docked in Mombasa, priority in distribution will be given to Ngaratuko, Baringo North and Tiaty areas.
This will include MRAPs, drones, mobility equipment, armored personnel gear.
Kindiki said even though they have ordered for aircrafts, they will take longer to get to the country.
"...Because when we order aircrafts there is what they call lead time. It's going to take maybe late next year (2024) for us to be able get the gun-ship helicopters that are part and parcel of this equipments programme," he explained.
On the note he also revealed that the government has rehabilitated some of the aircrafts for service, which can be used.
"Even as we wait for the aircrafts under this programme, we have two others which we want to station one in North Rift and another one in Northeastern," Kindiki added.
